Many of us use plastic flower or deer netting to hide landscaping, fruit trees and gardens from hungry deer. But what we may not realize is that while it may deter deer, it can harm other wild animals. When birds fly in between the holes of netting to go into a fruit tree, for example, it can be impossible for them to figure out how to escape. And animals can get caught in the holes and have a slow, painful death. If you must use netting, use the kind with the tiniest, smallest holes available.

There's a debate over the true eco-friendly nature of artificial grass. On one hand, fake turf saves water and needs very little maintenance over a 15- to 20-year period. On the other hand, it's made from petroleum, is not biodegradable and absorbs heat instead of cooling like real plants and grass can do. The greenest solution? Think ground-cover plants that involve almost zero mowing, watering or fertilizers. Ground covers like blue star creeper, elfin thyme and fleur de lawn love the sun, are drought resistant and are friendly to foot (or paw) traffic.

Backyard pools can be water wasters, so it's imperative to be aware if your pool is leaking. One way to check is to use a grease pencil to mark your pool's current water level. Wait one day and look at the mark: If the water level is half an inch or lower than the original mark, you likely have a leak. It's important to have a professional inspect the pool and determine where the leak is coming from and repair it. Be sure to cover your pool every night: It reduces the amount of evaporation of water into the atmosphere.